TITLE VI - THE FUNCTIONING OF THE UNION
CHAPTER I - PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE INSTITUTIONS
SECTION 2 - THE UNION'S ADVISORY BODIES
Subsection 2 - The Economic and Social Committee
ARTICLE III-389
The number of members of the Economic and Social Committee shall not exceed 350.
The Council, acting unanimously on a proposal from the Commission, shall adopt a European decision determining the Committee's composition.
ARTICLE III-390
The members of the Economic and Social Committee shall be appointed for five years. Their term of office shall be renewable.
The Council shall adopt the European decision establishing the list of members
drawn up in accordance with the proposals made by each Member State.
The Council shall act after consulting the Commission. It may obtain the opinion
of European bodies which are representative of the various economic and social
sectors and of civil society to which the Union's activities are of concern.
ARTICLE III-391
The Economic and Social Committee shall elect its chairman and officers from among its members for a term of two and a half years.
It shall be convened by its chairman at the request of the European Parliament,
of the Council or of the Commission. It may also meet on its own initiative.
It shall adopt its Rules of Procedure.
ARTICLE III-392
The Economic and Social Committee shall be consulted by the European Parliament, by the Council or by the Commission where the Constitution so provides. It may be consulted by these institutions in all cases in which they consider it appropriate. It may also issue an opinion on its own initiative.
The European Parliament, the Council or the Commission shall, if it considers
it necessary, set the Committee, for the submission of its opinion, a time-limit
which shall not be less than one month from the date on which the chairman receives
notification to this effect. Upon expiry of the time-limit, the absence of an
opinion shall not prevent further action.
The opinion of the Committee, together with a record of its proceedings, shall be forwarded to the European Parliament, to the Council and to the Commission.